Madhya Pradesh: Forest Department In Fix Over CM’s Snake Counting Stance | FP Image
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The forest department is in a fix after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav pressed the demand that snake counting shall be done to determine its population.
Nowhere in the world, snake counting has been done hitherto and there is no set procedure in this regard. Therefore, the forest department is going to write a letter to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to seek direction in this matter.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Shubhranjan Sen told Free Press that a communication will be done with WII over the issue and guidance will be sought that what should be done in the matter and how.
Meanwhile, wildlife experts asserted that snake census has not been done across the world. Snake counting is possible in a hectare or small area but not in a vast area like the entire state.
Wildlife expert YV Jhala said that in his knowledge, no country in the world has done snake counting. According to him, snake counting could be done in limited landscape such as in one hectare or an area of five kilometres but carrying out snake census across in large areas such as across the state is an impossible thing.
Former PCCF Wildlife, J S Chauhan said that he never heard or read about snake counting. He wondered that what would be the technique to be adopted for snake counting if it is at all done.
Notably, it was in a national-level work held recently in Bhopal that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had demanded from Union Minister, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav that snake counting shall be done. He was of the view that this will help in reducing snake bite cases as well particularly in Mandla belt.
No plan to bring 10 more King Cobras
It was during the national-level workshop of the forest department that the CM had vouched to have ten more King Cobras in the state’. No one is ready to give King Cobras. We have received two King Cobras (for Van Vihar National Park) after arduous effort. Currently there is no plan to bring King Cobras,’ a senior forest officer said.
